Countries Fail to Agree on Treaty to Prepare the World for the Next Pandemic
New York TimesMay 30
Former UK Scientific Advisor: Another Pandemic 'Absolutely Inevitable'
Above: Former Chief Scientific Advisor Patrick Vallance leaves following his appearance at the Covid Inquiry on November 20, 2023 in London, England. Image copyright: Leon Neal/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
Former UK chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance has warned that another pandemic is "absolutely inevitable" and called for preparing for future pandemics to be treated like potential wars.
Furthermore, he said Britain isn't prepared for another pandemic, alleging that the G7 countries have forgotten the importance of "continual government focus and attention."
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The next pandemic is merely a question of when — rather than if — and the world must be ready because human timetables will be worthless. That's why a global pandemic treaty has to be in place as soon as possible to improve preparedness and response to such an event and ensure a safer future for humankind.
Establishment-critical narrative
Even before the once-in-a-generation coronavirus pandemic ended, the media and WHO were looking for a new worldwide health emergency, so warnings about the next pandemic are nothing but new. Adopting a treaty would effectively create a large pandemic industry and allow personal freedoms to be restricted again.
Metaculus Prediction
Articles on this story
Sign Up for Our Free NewslettersSign Up for Our Free Newsletters
Sign Up!
Sign Up Now!